GERMAN CRUELTY Sm,—As a constant reader for many years of
The Spectator, I think Mr. Nicolson's view is unnecessarily generous. I think the facts, eon- sinuously confirmed confirmed by official statements' given by war correspondents, neutral as well as pro-Ally, have been sufficient to emphasise that the German people, as a mass, condone and agree with whatever their leaders may consider to be politically and militarily necessary in respect to ruth- lessness and treachery. History has proved that the warlike outlook
inspired by Frederick the Great is the modus vivendi of the German people. This is emphasised by Field Marshal Smuts and Lord Vansittart, who have indicated that in their view it will take two generations to instil into the German- youth the duty they -owe to God and their European neighbours.
My view is, that if we ignore our past experience and the advice of Field Marshal Smuts and Lord Vansittart, we shall leave our children and grandchildren an even more terrible legacy than has resulted from the stupidity (and worse) of our political leaders of 1931-1938.
Does Mr. Nicolson really think that if the British soldier was ordered to use the same ruthless methods in respect of women and children—to say nothing of the treatment of Jews—he would obey? We know that almost to a man our soldiers would refuse. Sadism is in the German blood : so devoid of mercy are they that their soldiers and Gestapo laugh at the misery of their tortured helpless victims.—Yours sincerely, National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, S.W.'. E. C. W. OLDHAM.
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